Scotland 22, Portugal 21

The Scotland 7s team reached their first ever Cup semi-final at the Emirates Airline London Sevens this afternoon.

Despite being 21-0 down at the break, the Scots rallied to score four second half tries to edge through by a single point against Portugal.

Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell said: It’s unbelievable. It’s been a long time coming for me personally. We’ve had a few heartaches in quarter-finals and we made it tough there.

“It’s been ten years knocking at the door and great credit to them for finally achieving it.

“You can see nerves coming through from the players. We said we should treat it like any other game but, no matter how many times you say it, the players know it’s not. The players know it’s something we’ve never achieved in the history of Scotland 7s.”

Tries from Aderito Esteves, Sebastiao da Cunha and Goncalo Foro – all converted by Pedro Silva – looked to have killed Scotland’s chances. But battle hard they did, and what a result.

Half-time score: Scotland 0, Portugal 21

Hefin O’Hare was the difference for the Scots in the second period, coming on at half-time to ignite their attack and solidify their defence.

He almost found the score-sheet as soon as he had taken the field, screaming for the ball out in space, but the eventual pass from Roddy Grant was forward.

Scotland then continued to press. They won their own line-out ball and simple hands fed the ball out to Jim Thompson. Although he had support either side of him, he found his own way to the line, much to his own surprise. Colin Gregor converted.

Then, from what looked certain to be another Portugal try, O’Hare hauled the attacker down and initiated a counter-attack.

Scotland then made their way up the right flank and regrouped in the opposition half. Grant touched down in the corner but Gregor couldn’t convert from such a tight angle.

Glasgow Warriors wing, O’Hare then found the line for a try of his own before his Edinburgh counterpart Andrew Turnbull sealed the historic victory.

Scotland will now play England, who they also face in their first game on day one of the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Festival next weekend, in the Cup semi-final at 5:06pm.

Scotland 7s’ starting team v Portugal: Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors)

Scotland 7s squad to compete at the final two events on the IRB Sevens World Series in London (23 and 24 May) and Edinburgh (30 and 31 May): Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), John Houston (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)

* = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy